Dear Carol,

  I wear braces (牙箍) and I know I look just terrible in them. Is there anything I can do to improve my appearance until they come off?

                                                       Connie N.

Philadelphia, PA

Dear Connie,

  Start by thinking about how good you are going to look when your braces come off. If you are negative about your appearance, people will pick that up right away about you. In the meantime there are several things that you can do to lift your spirits:

l         Change your hairstyle. Be sure to get a good cut so that the shape of your hair will make your face prettier and also good for your type of hair (fine, thick, straight, curly, etc.) Choose a hairstyle that draws attention away from your face. Hair pulled back into a pony-tail or into a ball on top or slightly off-center can be attractive and practical for this purpose.

l         Keep skin clean. If you choose to wear makeup, it should look natural. Blusher(腮红) and lipstick in light color of peach or pink are best.

l         Be well-groomed（梳洗整洁的）. Neatness really counts. People see a total look about you before they ever become aware of your braces. And first impressions are lasting ones!

                    Carol

1．Why did Connie write to Carol?

       A．Because she really care about her clothes.

       B．Because she cared much about her appearance.

       C．Because her teeth were not good.

       D．Because she didn't know how to make up.

2．Carol's idea about one's appearance is ______.

       A．change your hairstyle and you will look beautiful

       B．keep your skin clean and you will look good

       C．neatness really counts

       D．if you yourself don't think you look smart, neither will other people

3．Carol tries to let Connie know that _______.

       A．the deepest impressions one leaves on others is the first ones

       B．spirits are important when we talk about one's appearance

    C．there are some practical ways to draw people's attention away from where you don't feel good

    D．all of the above

4．The underlined word “count” means ________ in the passage.

A．say numbers in order                        B．be of importance    

       C．not include                                      D．be accepted

The Healthy Habits Survey shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice.

1. How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?

Finding：A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.

Step：Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery-operated toothbrush.

Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day.

2. How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?

Finding：Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30% wash their hands only 4 times a day----half of the number doctors recommend.

Step：We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day-often inviting germs(病菌)to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes. Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.

3. How often do you think about fighting germs?

Finding：Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.

Step：Be aware of germs. Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge(海绵)that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.

1.What is found out American seniors?

A. Most of then have good habits.

B. Nearly 30% of then bathe three days a week.

C. About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day

D. All of then are fighting germs better than expected..

2.Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands      .

A. eight times a day                  B. three times a day

C. four times a day   D. twice a day

3.Which of the following is true according to the text?

A. We should keep from touching our faces.

B. There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth.

C. A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet.

D. We should wash our hands before touching a door handle.

4.The text probably comes from       .

A. a guide book                 B. a popular magazine

C. a book review                D. an official document

The UK has a well-respected higher education system and some of the top universities and research institutions in the world. But to those who are new to it all, sometimes it can be confusing.

October is usually the busiest month in the college calendar. Universities have something called Freshers’ Week for their newcomers. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots of clubs and settle into university life.

However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, the prospect (前景) of meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be nerve-wracking (令人焦虑不安的). Where do you start? Who should you make friends with? Which clubs should you join?

Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you worrying about starting their university social life on the right foot. So just take it all in slowly. Don’t rush into anything that you’ll regret for the next three years.

Here are some top advice from past students on how to survive Freshers’ Week：

● Learn rules. Make sure you know British social etiquette (礼节). Have a few wine glasses and snacks handy for your housemates and friends.

● Be kind. Sometimes cups of tea or even slices of toast can give you a head start in making friends.

● Be sociable. The more active you are, the more likely you’ll be to meet new people than if you’re someone who never leaves his room.

● Bring a doorstop. Keep your door open when you’re in and that sends positive messages to your neighbors that you’re friendly.

So with a bit of clever planning and effort, Freshers’ Week can give you a great start to your university life and soon you’ll be passing on your experience to next year’s freshers.

1.We can learn from the passage that ______.

A. Freshers’ Week usually comes in September in UK

B. all the students are required to join certain clubs in UK

C. many freshers are worried about how to fit university life

D. most of the students in the UK spend three years in universities

2.Why does the author suggest having wine glasses and snacks handy?

A. To pass the busy university life.

B. To help make friends with other freshers.

C. To show yourself a drinker as others.

D. To enjoy the time in a happy way.

3.The main purpose of the passage is to _______.

A. tell the newcomers how to make a new start in universities

B. introduce something about higher education system of the UK

C. inform the freshers of British social etiquette

D. advise the freshmen how to behave well in the beginning

Most of us seem to reach our peak of alertness (警觉) around noon. Soon after that, alertness declines, and sleepiness may set in by mid-afternoon.

Your short-term memory is best during the morning—in fact, about 15 percent more efficient than at any other time of day. So, students, take notice: when you are faced with a morning exam, it really does pay to review your notes right before the test is given.

However, long-term memory is different. Afternoon is the best time for learning materials that you want to recall days, weeks or months later. Politicians, business executives or others who must learn speeches would be smart to do their memorizing during that time of day. You should try to do most of your studying in the afternoon, rather than late at night. Many students believe they memorize better while burning the midnight oil because their short-term recall is better during the early hours of the morning than in the afternoon. But short-term memory won’t help them much several days later, when they face the exam.

By contrast, we tend to do best on tasks related to the process of knowing, understanding, and learning numbers during the morning hours.

What about sports? During afternoon and early evening, you’re able to react the quickest to an outside stimulus—like a baseball speeding toward you. Studies have also shown that late in the day, when your body temperature is peaking, you will consider PE easier and less tiring—whether it actually is or not. That means you are more likely to work harder during a late afternoon or early evening workout, and therefore benefit more from it.  

In fact, all of your senses—taste, sight, hearing, touch and smell—may be at their keenest during late afternoon and early evening. That could be why dinner usually tastes better to us than breakfast.

While all of us follow the same general pattern of ups and downs, the exact timing varies from person to person. It all depends on how your “biological” day is structured. Each of us can increase our knowledge about our individual rhythms. Learn how to listen to the inner beats of your body; let them set the pace of your day. You will live a healthier and happier life.

1.What does the underlined “it really does pay” mean?

A．It will cost a lot.                         B．It requires price.

C．It is very painful.                        D．It is worthwhile.

2.If there is an English exam two weeks later, you should go over English ____________ for days before that.

A．in the afternoon                        B．in the late evening

C．in the early morning                     D．right before the exam

3.From the passage, it can be inferred that ______________.

A．we eat more food at noon

B．we feel most tired if we exercise in the evening

C．it is a good choice to study math in the morning

D．we feel most sleepy before noon

4.Which would be the best title for the passage?

A．What’s Your Best Time of the Day for Different Tasks

B．How to Live a Healthier and Happier Life

C．How to Study Efficiently

D．How to Keep Your Best State of Learning

Five tips to succeed in school

[1]Develop a love of learning.

Many students know that school is important, but that’s not enough. You have to learn that learning does not stop with a grade or diploma —— it’s a way of life. You can even learn a lot from everyday activities at home —— reading, writing, listening to music or talking with your parents. All these activities are a kind of intellectual development.

[2]Get yourself organized.

Make a work plan and put all the homework on a calendar. Without a plan, students can easily forget what they have to do. Older students especially need such a plan as they have so many physical, emotional and academic events taking place in their lives.

[3] Eat with your parents as a family.

Dinner is a valuable opportunity for the family to spend time together. During dinner time, children have the opportunity to express their ideas, to argue and to develop their verbal skills.

[4]The process is more important.

Many times, all we see is the grade. In fact, the process of learning is much more important than the result, because result is always the thing of the past but the experience learned from the process can be used again in the future. When in need of help, ask others to give you the tools to find the answers yourselves. For example, instead of asking your parents to tell you where India is, ask them to show you how to use a map.

[5]Keep your expectations high.

Don’t be afraid to aim high. You can reach your goals. Set practical goals and do your best to reach them. If you make one step forward, you’ll enjoy making more. In this way you are building a bright future for yourself.

1.Which activities are mentioned as a kind of intellectural development in the passage? (within 10 words)

_____________________________________________________________________

2.According to the passage, why do students need a plan? (within 10 words)

_____________________________________________________________________

3.What’s the benefit of eating with parents? (within 15 words)

4.For what purpose does the author mention the example of using a map? (within 15 words)